"This is the operation manual and the list of precautions. The specific operation isn't difficult; as long as there's basic training, anyone can master this machine."
Lierre picked up a manual thicker than a brick from beside her feet and slammed it onto the table in front of her, causing the crowd to look over repeatedly.
She ignored the reactions of the people below and instead looked at Otto, who was smiling back at her.
Understanding the look, Otto turned around and said to the people behind him, "You are all part of the group I trust most, and you are also highly respected senior figures within Schicksal. Therefore, today's events had best rot in your stomachs. You are not to reveal them to outsiders."
The crowd's hearts tightened upon hearing this. As Otto's most loyal followers, they hurried to declare their allegiance.
"Lord Overseer, Lord Acting Overseer, even if I were to die, I wouldn't reveal half a word of what I've seen and heard today!"
"The same goes for me! This is Schicksal's greatest masterpiece in history. In a sense, it has eliminated the possibility of ordinary people coming into contact with the Honkai. This is a Divine Key that can indirectly save countless people. I will never allow it to be coveted by villains because of me!"
"With this machine, the mortality rate of Valkyries will be greatly reduced. It wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say that Lady Lierre's achievements will be recorded in the annals of Schicksal's history!"
...
These people were all old foxes. The earlier remarks were fine, but toward the end, they began praising Lierre in a roundabout way.
The call for her to be recorded in history was unexpectedly high, leaving Lierre somewhat speechless.
When construction on this machine first began, hardly any of these people were optimistic about it.
Now, look at them—they'd turned into total sycophants.
Quite realistic indeed.
"Lord Overseer, Lord Acting Overseer, if I may be so bold as to ask... what should this machine—oh, no, what should this Divine Key be named?" someone in the crowd asked curiously.
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene fell silent. Everyone turned their gaze toward Lierre in unison.
"Pink Fluffy Bunny!"
Lierre replied without a hint of hesitation.
Naming things was such a chore; she'd just make something up on the fly.
Otto: "..."
The crowd: "..."
As expected of the person who could name the life-saving potion for Valkyries the T-Virus; it fit her character perfectly.
While everyone was speechless, they also felt the name was inappropriate.
For such a powerful Divine Key, having this name caused its prestige to plummet.
In the future, if someone were to ask what that Barrier burning with white flames was, how were they supposed to answer?
Say that it was a large-scale Fuzetsu opened by the Divine Key: Pink Fluffy Bunny?
The prestige would be completely gone!
"Um, Lord Acting Overseer, that name is indeed quite pleasant, but I personally feel it's a bit unsuitable. Perhaps you could think of another one?"
In the end, someone mustered the courage to speak up.
If all went well, this Divine Key might become the symbol of Schicksal in the future, so the name couldn't be chosen too casually. They would be mocked by those fellows from their rival organization, Anti-Entropy.
Seeing that Lierre seemed to have zero interest, Otto took the initiative to suggest, "How about calling it Divine Blessing of the Ten Directions? Under God's protection, the living beings within the ten directions of the world shall be free from calamity, living in happiness and health."
Lierre looked up at him.
The name was quite Chuunibyou; as expected of someone from a religious background.
...
...
Bright sunlight spilled over the floating island. Otto and Lierre left the research institute and walked along the clean path.
Lierre was busy planning her escape for tonight, but Otto, beside her, had something to say.
"After using up that Cross of yours, what impact will it have on your abilities?"
As Otto spoke, he glanced down at Lierre's flat chest. The golden Cross necklace that usually hung there was now gone.
Lierre claimed it was just a starting key, but Otto didn't believe her for a second.
Because the intimidating giant Cross beneath the sea was essentially just an energy conversion device powered by the Honkai reactors below.
After all, how could Otto not understand a device built bit by bit under his very nose?
The functions displayed by the final result were simply inconsistent with the physical object itself.
Just as every Divine Key has a Herrscher Core at its center, that Cross was the Core of the Divine Blessing of the Ten Directions.
If losing that Cross meant Lierre lost her ability to summon others, it would be a loss for Otto instead.
Mobius had brought him quite a few surprises. Through several deals, he had gradually found a clear direction for saving Kallen.
Thus, Otto hoped Lierre could summon a few more "gold cards" like Mobius.
"It was just an ordinary Cross. What impact could it have on me?" Lierre replied, spreading her hands.
Even though she had imbued that Cross with quite a bit of Authority—such as causality, healing, prophecy, time, and regression.
"That's for the best then."
Otto studied her for a moment, and seeing she didn't appear to be lying, he changed the subject. "By the way, more than a year has passed now. Have you and Theresa still not decided on the specific dates for your engagement and wedding?"
If you hadn't mentioned it, I would've almost forgotten.
Lierre raised a fair index finger and answered decisively, "I'll give you an answer tomorrow morning!"
Only then did Otto show a satisfied smile, nodding. "Good, I look forward to the good news tomorrow!"
Inside a villa near the Apocalypse Research Institute.
After bidding farewell to Otto, Lierre proactively returned to the luxurious courtyard assigned to her.
Just as she reached the backyard, Lierre saw a cat-eared girl lying on a hammock not far away.
She had a lollipop in her mouth and her eyes were half-closed. She hummed a tune leisurely, her cat tail swishing happily behind her.
It was clear this cat-eared girl was in a very good mood, thoroughly enjoying her current life.
Pardofelis—that was the girl's name. One of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers of Fire-Moth, ranked XIII, bearing the signet of "Empty."
She was originally a stray child living in Sundown Alley, leading a life of uncertainty. It wasn't until she learned theft techniques from a cat that she was able to stay fed and clothed.
Later, due to a misunderstanding, she accidentally became a MANTIS.
Furthermore, thanks to her own luck attribute, she managed to survive until the Final Battle. Ultimately, in order to open the "Gate" to help Prometheus invade the Imaginary Tree, she was eroded by a massive amount of Honkai energy and died instantly.
She wasn't powerful like the other Flame-Chasers; in fact, she was pitifully weak. Moreover, she didn't have much ambition; her dream since childhood was simply to eat her fill and take afternoon naps.
When Lierre stepped into the backyard, the cat ears atop Pardofelis's head twitched.
She woke up instantly, jumping off the hammock as quickly as a nimble cat.
"Boss, why are you back so early today? Did Sister Snake not come back with you?"
Caught red-handed while slacking off, Pardofelis scratched the back of her head awkwardly, trying hard to change the subject.
Lierre didn't dwell on this minor matter and directly instructed, "Pardo, go find Ana, who should still be training. Tell her to gather here once she's finished."
One couldn't forget to bring the mascot when running away. Since she had boarded Lierre's pirate ship, it wouldn't be so easy to get off.
"You got it!" Pardofelis agreed without a second thought.
The next morning.
"I, Lierre, hereby resign from the post of Acting Overseer of Schicksal starting today, and I am completely withdrawing from the organization..."
Otto looked at the notification sent by Lierre and fell into deep thought.
Meanwhile, the news of Lierre's resignation and her departure with the Fire-Moth squad blew toward the Far East Branch like a gust of wind.